Prolonged Low Voltage Power Supply

A.

A prolonged power supply that is below normal voltage is a brownout.

From: HARRIS, Shon, All-In-One CISSP Certification Exam Guide, 3rd.

Edition McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2005, page 368.

The correct answer is A. Brownout.

A brownout is a decrease in electrical power that lasts for an extended period, usually lasting a few hours or longer, and is characterized by a reduction in voltage. A brownout can occur due to a variety of factors, including power grid overload, equipment failure, and inclement weather.

During a brownout, the power supply voltage drops below the standard level, which can cause equipment to malfunction or fail. Brownouts can affect a wide range of devices, including computers, appliances, and industrial equipment.

Brownouts can cause problems for security administrators, as they can affect the performance of security systems and lead to vulnerabilities. For example, if a brownout affects a security camera system, the cameras may fail to record important footage or may produce distorted images that are of no use in identifying suspects. Similarly, if a brownout affects a security system's central control unit, the unit may fail to function properly, leaving the system vulnerable to intrusion or other security breaches.

To mitigate the risks posed by brownouts, security administrators should ensure that their systems are protected by uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) that can maintain power in the event of a brownout or blackout. They should also regularly test their systems to ensure that they are functioning properly and can withstand brownouts and other power-related issues.